Improving Student Reading Comprehension in the Content Areas through the Use of Visual Organizers.

Agnello, Carol; Jockl, Peter; Pearson, Isabel; Velasco, Daniel

This report describes a program for using graphic organizers to enhance reading comprehension in the content areas. The targeted population consisted of middle school students in regular education classes at four different locations in a large metropolitan area. Graphic organizers will aid visually/spatially talented students as well as visually/spatially challenged students and will increase positive attitudes toward reading in the content area. Analysis of probable cause data revealed that students have low reading comprehension in the content area. Recent research states that graphic organizers will benefit all students and students can enhance their weaker intelligences through practice. Additionally the data suggests that teacher made graphic organizers will benefit the students the most. A review of solution strategies suggested by knowledgeable others, combined with an analysis of the problem setting,resulted in the selection of one major category of intervention: the use of four different graphic organizers to enhance reading comprehension in the content areas. Post intervention data indicated an increase in all students' reading comprehension. Those students who were visually/spatially challenged showed the greatest increase in reading comprehension. (Contains 40 references, and nine tables and 13 figures of data. Appendixes contain a multiple intelligence inventory, lesson plans, student interview questions, and a reading style survey.) (Author/RS)